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Child Behaviour Management

This policy has been devised in the hope that it will encourage and promote consistency amongst staff and parents/carers involved in the care of children at Sunshine/sunbeams Day Nursery.

  • Possible behaviour concerns
  • Physically aggressive towards staff or parents/carers or other children.
  • Failure to co-operate/unwilling to share.
  • Non-compliance.
  • Deliberate spoiling of materials/equipment.
  • Verbal abuse e g swearing
  • Temper tantrums that are not age appropriate.
  • Difficult behaviour at meal times.
  • Sexual awareness inappropriate to the age.

We aim to be realistic in our expectations of children in our care and at all times be aware of any underlying reasons or causes that might explain the problems and take into account the child?s age and stage of development.

Our behaviour management guidelines are:

  • Be firm, fair and consistent - we will aim to be aware of any child?s behaviour problem and all try to be consistent in the approach that we use to deal with it.
  • Set good examples - We all know that children learn by example, so we as adults will try to be aware of our actions and strive to behave in the way we would expect children in our care.
  • Develop a positive image for each individual child - By encouraging every child, regardless of age, gender or disability to take part in nursery activities. We will ensure that all toys and equipment are equally accessible to the children, always striving to promote all cultures and religions within the nursery by way of books, displays, toys, discussion and celebration of festivals.
  • Criticise actions rather than child - By explaining to the child that it is their behaviour that is unacceptable and needs to be changed and always reassuring them, praising positive behaviour.
  • Give appropriate outlets for self expression - By providing opportunities for physical activities such as physical play, music and movement etc, and by encouraging children to talk about their feelings.
  • Praise and encouragement - By offering praise and encouragement, children will gain confidence and a feeling of self-importance.

Children?s behaviour can be affected by many external factors, such as:

  • Family problems (new baby, new house, change in routine, family relationship difficulties).
  • Neglect (lack of care, personal or emotional, lack of attention).
  • Bullying.
  • Inconsistent boundaries (between parents/carers at home or staff/parents at nursery).
  • Lack of play space.
  • Insufficient positive attention.
  • Inability to express feelings.
  • Not enough stimulation/boredom.
  • Staff shortages/conflict/unfamiliar staff.
  • Staff/parent stress/poor attitudes.
  • Too high expectations.
  • No freedom of choice.
  • Not enough time to complete activities/bad time management.
  • Other factors
  • Lack of sleep/tiredness.
  • Illness, feeling unwell.
  • Medical conditions e g hyperactivity.
  • First time at nursery (settling into routines, expectations).
  • Minor or major change in general routines.

It is of vital importance that staff and parents/carers work closely together to ensure that children have consistency in the management of their behaviour by means of regular discussion and the sharing of methods and information.

We have to set boundaries in order to:

  • Provide guidance & general rules.
  • Prevent chaos.
  • To ensure health & safety.
  • Learn acceptable & unacceptable behaviour.
  • Promote moral & spiritual well-being.
  • Provide security for children.
  • Prepare children for life in society.
  • Promote caring.
  • Good practice for dealing with unacceptable behaviour
  • Take into account the child?s age, stage of development, understanding and individual needs.
  • Minor behaviour problems can and should be ignored.
  • Praising appropriate and positive attention may be sufficient to change the unacceptable behaviour.
  • Change your tone of voice to illustrate your disapproval of behaviour, adopting a firm tone.
  • To gain attention of a child/children raise your voice but do not shout, talk to them at their own level and gain eye contact where possible.
  • Let the child know that it is the behaviour that is unacceptable, not the child.
  • Never humiliate or ridicule the child/children in front of others, take them aside and talk to them about their behaviour quietly.
  • If the child are involved in a dispute with another child and they need intervention to avoid injury, ask the children how it happened and allow them to give ideas on how to solve the dispute.
  • Use positively phrased comments. Explain to the child what it is that is unacceptable using examples if possible e g If throw the sand, it could go in Susie?s eyes and hurt her so please don?t do it. I saw you make a beautiful sand castle this morning; I?d like to see another one.
  • If the child persists in presenting unacceptable behaviour tell them what the consequences will be if they continue e g they will not be able to play with the activity, watch a video or stay in that area any more. Follow this through by directing the child to another activity of their choice.
  • If the behaviour is dangerous or disruptive, time out may have to be used to enable the child to calm down and give staff/parents/carers the opportunity to talk to the child at their level of understanding, to hold and comfort them as appropriate. Reward the child for good behaviour on return.

Work as a team to reinforce all the above.